National Rugby League side Gold Coast Titans "are busy redesigning their jerseys for the Auckland Nines" and the '17 season after signing a three-year deal with Classic Sportswear, according to Tom Boswell of the GOLD COAST BULLETIN. The club has "scrapped embattled apparel company BLK, whose parent company World Rugby Specialists Group went into receivership last month." The Titans are now tied to Classic Sportswear until the end of '19. The club unveiled its Nines jersey last week but Gold Coast CEO Graham Annesley said that "it would likely undergo minor alterations while keeping a very similar look." Annesley: "There will be minor modifications but we will be signing off on the artwork in the next few days and they have guaranteed to meet our timelines" (GOLD COAST BULLETIN, 12/14). Boswell reported in a separate piece Annesley said that the club made the decision after BLK "failed to guarantee" the club's '17 apparel would be produced and delivered on time. Annesley: "Anytime something like this happens it is difficult to process, and it has been made even more gut-wrenching as BLK is a local Gold Coast-based company. ... Although we really feel for BLK, we are absolutely delighted to be entering a long-term partnership with Classic Sportswear" (GOLD COAST BULLETIN, 12/14).
